laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber
@laurenweberhp.bsky.social
1.6K followers 450 following 57 posts
Health Accountability reporter at The Washington Post focused on HHS, health policy and its impact. You can reach me at [email protected] and on Signal @LWeber.91
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
Kennedy has disclosed he gave the stake to an adult family member who is licensed to practice law in California. One of Kennedy’s sons, Conor Kennedy, is listed as working at Wisner Baum in its Los Angeles office.
laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
During Kennedy’s confirmation hearings, he faced immense pressure to divest from a financial stake he initially said he would keep in cases he referred to Wisner Baum before becoming secretary.
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
“I did not get into the Tylenol autism case, not because I didn’t think it had merit or because it was a solid case,” he said. But after looking at the science, he said, “I didn’t want to pursue it.”
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
However, on an April 2024 podcast, the firm’s managing partner, R. Brent Wisner, said he chose not to get involved in the Tylenol class-action lawsuit.
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
The call-out for plaintiffs was listed on the Wisner Baum website from at least the end of January 2023 through part of May this year, at one point with the words “AWARD-WINNING ATTORNEYS PURSUING TYLENOL LAWSUIT COMPENSATION FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES.”
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 13d
Research tying Tylenol to autism lost in court. Then it won Trump’s ear

Take a read to learn more about how Wisner Baum, the personal injury firm RFK Jr. consulted for, took an early interest

w/ Dan Gilbert, @arianaec.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Research tying Tylenol to autism lost in court. Then it won Trump’s ear.
Kenvue had gained the upper hand in litigation alleging acetaminophen use during pregnancy can cause autism. Now the Trump administration has breathed new life into research rejected by a federal judg...
www.washingtonpost.com
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
Read the whole story for more data and parents discussing the decline in trust in childhood vaccines since the pandemic among the broader public.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Why 1 in 6 U.S. parents are rejecting vaccine recommendations
A wide-ranging Washington Post-KFF poll details who tends to reject vaccine recommendations and their reasoning.
www.washingtonpost.com
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
The vast majority of American parents still support immunizations, as well as vaccine mandates for school.

But this poll shows the "slight cracks we’re starting to see in confidence among younger parents" Liz Hamel said.
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
As Kennedy and his allies reorient national vaccine policy, few embrace their false claims about vaccines causing autism or chronic disease. But at least 4 in 10 parents say they don’t know enough to say whether those claims are true or false.
A chart describing RFK Jr.'s false claims
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
To better understand the poll's findings, we talked to 40 parents about why they chose to skip or delay or vaccinate. Some of them said that RFK Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who is now the nation's top health official, has given them a voice.

Others said they didn't trust him
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
“Delaying or spreading out vaccine doses leaves your child unprotected during the time when they need vaccine protection the most,” the CDC writes on its website.
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
Pediatricians, the CDC and medical experts say that recommended vaccines are proven to be safe and effective through extensive research and monitoring.

Despite this, many American parents still worry about side effects.
A chart detailing why parents skip or delay vaccination
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
The poll — the most detailed recent look at the childhood vaccination practices and opinions of American parents — shows that 1 in 6 parents have delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children, excluding for coronavirus or flu

Me, @sfcpoll.bsky.social @emgusk.bsky.social @lenasun.bsky.social
A chart of the 1 and 6 parents who have skipped or delayed vaccination
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 23d
Meet the parents skipping or delaying vaccination: Our @washingtonpost.com @kff.org poll found they are more likely to home-school their children, be White and very religious, identify as Republican or be under 35

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Why 1 in 6 U.S. parents are rejecting vaccine recommendations
A wide-ranging Washington Post-KFF poll details who tends to reject vaccine recommendations and their reasoning.
www.washingtonpost.com
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 27d
this was the same study that Sen. Ron Johnson said was " a high quality study" and organized a Senate hearing around, as he said it showed vaccinated children are more likely to have chronic conditions.
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 27d
Here are the flaws in the study, according to Henry Ford Health
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 27d
The spokesperson said the institution was not given the opportunity by Congress to weigh in or testify.

"In the end, this report was not published because it did not even come close to meeting the rigorous scientific standards we demand—not because of the results."
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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 27d
A spokesperson told me that "an initial peer review of the draft revealed immediate and significant concerns due to serious data flaws" and that the institution "was unaware this long-rejected and unvalidated draft was being talked about or had somehow been shared."
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 27d
On Tuesday on the hill, Sen. Ron Johnson touted results from an unpublished study commissioned by an anti-vaccine group as showing the risk of childhood vaccines.

I asked why the study hadn't been published of Henry Ford Health, where the author who did not testify worked.
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laurenweberhp.bsky.social
Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · Sep 8
Meet the new vaccine panel advisors RFK Jr. is considering

Two urged removal of mRNA coronavirus vaccines. One said physicians “blindly believed” in them. Another said covid isn’t “scary” noting Jesus touched lepers

W @lenasun.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
RFK Jr. considers critics of coronavirus shots to join key vaccine panel
Two urged removal of mRNA coronavirus vaccines. One said physicians “blindly believed” in them. Another said covid isn’t “scary,” noting Jesus touched lepers.
www.washingtonpost.com
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Reposted by Lauren Weber
caitlingilbert.bsky.social
Caitlin Gilbert @caitlingilbert.bsky.social · Sep 6
NEW: in recent weeks, right wing media and influencers have seized on new research suggesting a connection between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism

Ariana Cha, @laurenweberhp.bsky.social and I broke down the science and what MAHA influencers are claiming

wapo.st/4gdFIPt
Some suggest Tylenol is linked to autism. Here’s what to know.
Conservative media and influencers are amplifying research suggesting a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.
wapo.st
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Reposted by Lauren Weber
fenitn.bsky.social
Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · Sep 6
Florida's move to erase school immunization requirements emboldens opponents of vaccine mandates nationwide.

Trisha Thadani & @laurenweberhp.bsky.social report www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
RFK Jr. allies claim momentum as Florida targets vaccines: ‘Fight is coming’
Florida’s plan to end school vaccine mandates, announced by Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, has energized vaccine skeptics in other states.
www.washingtonpost.com
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Reposted by Lauren Weber
lenasun.bsky.social
Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · Sep 4
NEW: RFK Jr.’s upending of vaccine policy is driving some states to break away from Trump admin guidelines while others are further loosening shot requirements. Me and @laurenweberhp.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
RFK Jr. drives a wedge between red and blue states on vaccines
As states diverge on coronavirus vaccines, parents across party lines still support vaccine mandates for measles and polio, according to a Washington Post-KFF poll.
www.washingtonpost.com
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Reposted by Lauren Weber
lenasun.bsky.social
Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · Aug 30
NEW: The CDC has been in crisis for months. After the firing of its director, resignations of senior leaders, staff + experts are bracing for what could be death knell for public health credibility. Me + @laurenweberhp.bsky.social + @davidovalle.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The CDC is falling deeper into crisis. What it means for the nation’s health.
Months of upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have undercut the agency’s work, employees said, and put the future of vaccines into doubt.
www.washingtonpost.com
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Reposted by Lauren Weber
fenitn.bsky.social
Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · Aug 28
As something of a side note, RFK Jr. said twice today that the CDC website touts abortion as one of the greatest medical advancements.

It does not, as @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @caitlingilbert.bsky.social reported www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
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